I have written to my MP about the community’s concerns about biometric age verification. I included a couple of the graphs to support the email.

Here it is! I’ll let you know what response I get back:

I hope you are well, and thank you again for your previous correspondence and for your continued engagement on issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities.

I am writing to follow up on our earlier exchange, in light of growing concerns about online privacy, identity verification, and the potential impact on vulnerable groups.

As part of this, I recently conducted a short anonymous survey within an online community focused on gender and bodily identity, to better understand how people are experiencing these changes. In total, 165 people responded, including individuals from the UK.

A few findings stood out:

• 68% of respondents said anonymity is very important or essential for their safety
• 79% expressed concern about identity verification measures such as ID checks or facial age estimation
• 65% indicated they would reduce participation, move platforms, or leave entirely if such measures became mandatory

These are not abstract concerns. For many participants, anonymity is what allows them to engage at all in discussions around identity, health, and personal experience without fear of stigma or harm.

Several respondents highlighted that, given the current climate around gender identity, they would feel unsafe if required to link their identity to online participation. Others expressed concern about the risks associated with storing biometric or identity data, even where safeguards are claimed.

I fully recognise the importance of protecting children online, and I support efforts to improve safety. However, I am increasingly concerned that the use of biometric or identity-based verification may have unintended consequences for adults who rely on anonymity for legitimate and important reasons.

In particular, there is a risk that such measures could:

• discourage participation in supportive communities
• disproportionately affect transgender and gender non-conforming individuals
• normalise the use of highly sensitive biometric data in everyday digital interactions

I have attached a brief summary of the survey findings for reference.

I would be very interested in your perspective on how current and future policy can balance the need for online safety with the protection of privacy and anonymity, particularly for vulnerable groups.

As before, I would be very happy to contribute further or provide additional input if that would be helpful.